Process of and apparatus for oxidizing gases



H A" 2 g 1. 0 e

n u a PROCESS OF AND APPARATUs FOR OXIDIZING GASES led June 22,

I M VENTOR flYGE/YI/I/Y H5 CHE/YBLEIKHER Patenteddune 10, M24;

fttlnirsn amass Mama rarest Y QFFECEQ- ING-ENUIN HECHENBLEIKNER, i OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR; TO

SOUTHERN ELECTRO-CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF

01? NEW JERSEY.

NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR OXIDIZING GASES.

. Application filed June 22, 1921. Serial Np. 479,570.

'Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for Oxidizing Gases, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for oxidizing gases and relates more particularly to an electric furnace used in the manufacture of phosphoric acid for the production of phosphoric anhydrid; and' has special. reference to the provision of such a furnace having means for andembodying a method of oxidizing in the furnace the phosphorous gas produced therein for the obtaining of the phosphoric anhydrid.

In the manufacture of phosphoric'acid a charge comprising a mixture of phosphatic material such as phosphate rock, carbonaceous. material such as coke or carbon and silicious material such as sand, is fed into an electric furnace provided with the usual carbon electrodes to which an alternating current is supplied for the production of an electric arc. The intense heat of the arc causes the components of the mixture to melt down and interreact, phosphorous gas being generated or liberated in the zone of reaction according to the following formula:

bining with the oxygen in the air to pro- .duce phosphoric anhydrid" or phosphorous pentoxide according to theformula: 2P,'+5O '=2P,0

The carbon monoxide produced in the furnace is also burned to' carbon dioxide according to the formula:

The P 0 gases formed by the'intermixture of the P vapors with air may then be conducted through absorption towers where the P 0 gases are absorbed by water to produce phosphoric acid.

By a prior process, as described, for example, in my Patent No. 1,249,392, patented December 11, 1917, the P gases liberated in the furnace is comixed with a stream of air in an oxidizing chamber separated from but connected to the furnace, means being provided in the separate oxidizing chamber for effecting a thorough intermixture of the' phosphorous vapors with the air to produce a maximum P 0 yield. Another prior process contemplates the introduction of the oxidizing fluid such as air through inlets provided in the upper walls of the furnace. The introduction of the air at such point in this latter process, however, has been found disadvantageous for the reason that an eflicient comixture of the air and P, gases cannot be obtained- I have found that an eflicient oxidizing of the P gases'may be produced. by introducing a jet or stream of oxidizing fluid such as air into the furnace in the region of phosphorous liberation, and more particularly in the reaction zone of the furnace. I have found that by introducing a stream or current of air in the reaction zone, 'and more specifically-between and below the electrodes at or about the slag level of the furnace, that the oxygen in the air will eflectively comix and combine with the P gases liberated in this zone and thatthese elements will react for the formation of the RD, gases without materially affecting the inte rity of the carbon electrodes. The affinity of the oxygen for the liberated P gases in the hot zone of reaction appears invention and in which: a

to be such as to cause these elements to co mixand combine Without subjectingthe furnace electrodes to attack. The'introduction of the air in this zonepf reaction in addition to effecting oxidation of the P gases also causes the oxidation of the CO. gases" to'CO By introducingthe air into the furnace at the zone ofreaction I amfenabled to obtain not only an eflicient comixture Furthermore, the greater heat evolved in the reaction zone may be utilized for thebetter preheating of the charge in thefurnace above thereaction .zone; dlfy present invention therefore contemplates a method and means for accomplishing these results and involves generally-the introducing of a jet or stream of oxidizing fiuid into the furnace in the reaction zone thereof so as to effect the desired okida'tion of the gasesgenerated or liberated in the furnace.

To the accomplishment'of the-foregoingand such other objects ashiay hereinafter appear, my invention 'consis'tsin the ele- -v ments and their relatioiiffone to thc other, as hereinafter particularly described andsought to be defined in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which showa preferred enib'odiin'entpfmy' Figure 1 is ,an elevational view in cross section of my furnacetaken on the line 15-1 Figure 2,

Figure 2 isan elevationa l View in cross f sectiontaken on the line2r2, Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a plan View in cross section taken on the line 3*3, Figure 1.

The furnace preferably comprises a bottom section 10 forming areaction chamber,- an intermediate section ll'forming a chain her for receiving a charge. of phosphatic, carbonaceous and silicious material, and 'a top section l2lforming a stack'and conduit communication"; With section 11 'of the fur? mace and adapted to be connected to' other. apparatus ,used in the manufacture of phoshoric acid, as shown, for example, in my atent Noj. 1,112,211, dated September 29, 1914.

The bottom s otion 1 0Yof the furnace is preferably surrdl'lnded. b'y'a water jacket formed by'spaced sheet metal plates 13 and 14, reinforced preferably by angle irons 15 and Ibeams 16, the spaced plates defining achamber for the reception of a refrigcrat in fluid such as Water, piping 17 being provi ed and connected to a bottom plate 1% for conducting the water to the Water acket outlet pipe sections 18 communicating with the upper part of the water jacket being pro Vided for conducting the circulating water out of the water jacket. The water jacket is preferably lined with a lire resisting material s'uch' as fire brick 19, this forming the Walls of the reaction chamber of the furnace: The bottom furnace section 10 is also provided preferably with a plurality of tap The intermediate sect ion 11 of the furnace is adapted for the reception of a charge of 'prosphate roclqsand and carbon, the said intermediate section comprising a sheet.v metal exterior 26 internally lined with a fire.

resisting wal'l such as a fire brick wall 27, this intermediate portion 11 receiving the ad ustable electrodes-28 and 29, each of. the

an inlet pipe 241 and an. outlet electrodes being surrounded with a cooling system in theform of a Water jacket 30 inlet pipe section 31- and outlet pipe section 32 being conected to the jacket 30 for conducting a circulating refrigerating medium into and from-the said cooling system.

' The top or stack portion 12 of the furnace -mayform a continuation of the intermediate section and s also preferably provided with the sheet metal] exterior internally lined .Withlfir e' resisting material, the said stack portion 12 being provided with a feed openin'g-in theformof abell hopper 33, the mix 'ture of phosphate rock, sandand carbon be- .ingxintroduc'ed into the furnace through this -be11 hopper- The stack portion 12 is also formed with a conduit section 34, the gases generated-or liberated in the furnace being' adapted to bedrawn'from the furnace by Way of-this conduit and through other ap-, paratus'connected to the con'dliit', a suction or draft t'o-creat'e" avelocity for the moving gases being' provided by an exhaust f'an formingpart of the system as particularly show-n in the patent above referred to.

The charge introduced through the bell 'liopper 83 is received in section 11 of the 'furnace, the said charge being then adapted to be melted down by the heat of the are across. the electrodes 28 and 29, the high temperature of thearc causing the components of the mixture or charge to inter react for the liberation of phosphorous and carbon monoxide gases as hereinabove re ferred to, the calcium silicate forming a slag which is removed from the tap hole 21, the gases liberated in the zone of reaction surrounding the electrodes being free to be gen in the air to form the desired phosphor-- ous anhydrid. To thisend the bottom section of the furnace is provided with means for directing-a jet or current. of air into the reaction zone of the furnace. I accordingly provide the furnace with preferably opposing air nozzles 35 and 36, each of the nozzles opening into the furnace, the nozzles being so imbedde'd and located in the furnace walls as to direct ,a stream of oxidizablefluid such as air into the charge at the slag level or slightly above the slag level of the furnace. I have found that by injecting the air by this means and in this i'nanner into the furnace and into the reaction zone thereof that the phosphorous pentoxide gases may be. efficiently produced in this region. the affinity of the oxygen for the liberated phosphorous vapors in this heated zone being such as to effect the combination of these gases without subjecting the carbon electrodes to destruction and Without affecting the fire brick walls of the furnace: I have further found that by the generation of the phosphorous pentoxide gases in this region, as also the carbon dioxide gases, that a more intense heat is obtained in the reaction zone due to the heat of oxidation, this in turn effecting a more efficient reaction and permitting a less consumption of energy for the electric-arc. Furthermore, the generation of more intense heat in this zone perniits'of a bettenpreheating of the charge or mixture in theintermediate furnace section ll by the P 0 and the CO gases which move through this section when drawn fhrough the stack and conduit of the fur lilieration of phosphorous and the formation of the phosphorous pentoxide gases-are produced. 1 also preferably taper or converge upwardly the walls of the intermediate furnace section 11, a more uniform preheating of the'charge contained in this section being produced in this manner.

The .operation and method of use of my furnace Wil-l',in the main, be apparent from. the above description thereof. The charge of phosphate rock, sand and carbon is introduced into the furnace by way of the hopper 33, an alternating current inipressed upon-the carbon electrodes of the furnace providing the desired arc and high temperature for melting down the charge and causing the same to react for the liberation of the phosphorous'gas', a jet of air, preferably under pressure, being introduced or injected into the furnace and more particularly into the reaction zone thereof, nozzle sections 35 and36 beingv provided for directing the jet of air intothe said reaction zone. this highly heated-zone will be oxidized by the air for the production of phosphoric. anhydrid, a suction or draft created in the conduit 34: effecting the desired velocity for removing the produced"phosphorous pentoxide gases from the furnace and into the aux.- iliary apparatus connected to the furnace where the said phosphorous pentoxide gases are absorbed by water to produce phosphoric acid. .By introducing the jet of air in sufficient'volume and preferably under pressure in the reaction zone of the furnace, not only will an efficient comixture of oxygen and phosphorous take place for the generation of phosphorous pentoxide, but a more intense heat will be produced in the reaction zone due to the heat of oxidation, the oxida tion of P gases as well as the CO gases in- -volv1ng exothermic reactlons.

I The introductlon of a1r streams or currents in this manner into thefurnace permits of the dispensing of an oxidizing chamberhitherto employed, a saving of energy in the electric are being also permitted along with a'more eflicient preheating of the charge or mixture received by the furnace. I

While I have shown and described my device in the preferred form, it will be obviousthat many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of. the invention, defined in the following claims.

The phosphorous gas liberated in phosphati'c andsilicious material to effect a reaction for the production'ot phosphorous vapor or gas and incompletely oxidizing the gas produced by sub eQLmg the charge within the zone of reaction toa current or oxidizing fluid-such as air. I

5. The process of oxid zing which consists in heating a charge of carbonaceous, phosphatic and silicious material bvinjeans of the electric arc tofeii'ect a' reaction for the production of phosphorous vapor or gas and in subjecting the charge Within the zone of. reaction 'th a ciirrent of oxidizing fluid such air to oxidize the gas to phosphoric anhydrid.

(3. In the process of producing phosphoric acidgas by subjecting a charge to heat to cause the sanie to react for the liberation of a phosphormis gas or vapor, the step which consists in completely oxidizing the gas by introducing an oxidizing-fluid Within-the zone of reaction.

7.111 the process of producing phosphorous vapor or gas-by subjecting acharge 701":

means carbonaceous, phosphatic and silicious material to an electric arc to cause the same to react for the liberation of phosphorous vapor or gas, the stepwhich consists in injecting a currentof oxidizing fluid Within the zone or reaction to oxidize the phosphorous gas produced. e

8. The process of producing phosphoric acid gases which consists in subjecting a charge to the are in an electric furnace to efl'ect a. reaction for the liberation of a phos-.- c

phorous vapor or gas, in introducing substantially at the slag level in the furnace a current of oxidizing fluid to oxidize the gas produced.

9. The process of oxidizing gases which consists in subjecting a charge ofcarbonaceous, phosphatic andsilicious material to the arc in an electric furnace to efi'ect a reaction for the liberation of a phosphorous vapor or gas and in introducing substantially at the slag level in the furnace a current of air to oxidize ,the gas produced."

10. In the process of producing a phosphorous vapor or by sub ecting a charge of carbonaceous, phosphatic and silicious 1na-' terial to the arc in an electrict'urnace to cause the charge to react for the liberation of phos phorous or vapor, that step Whichconsists in introducing a jet or current of air substantially at the slag level in the furn'ace to oxidize the phosphorous gas to produce phosphorlc anhydrid.

Si ned at Charlotte in the county of Mecklenbur and State of North Carolina this 6 day 0 June A. D. 1921. r INGENUIN HECHENBLEIKNER. 

